The
exponential speed at which technology is changing makes incumbent worker
training programs critical to meeting the skills needs of Minnesota
employers, according to Paul Moe, director of the Minnesota Jobs Skills
Partnership (MJSP).

With Minnesota at nearly full employment, areas throughout the state
need more skilled, semiskilled and super-skilled workers, he says.

Moe
says the state's manufacturers recognize they will be facing the double
whammy of increasing retirements and the chronic shortage of skilled
workers to replace those retirees. He predicts that in certain pockets
of the state, signing bonuses for new hires in fields like precision
manufacturing will run as high as $10,000 to $30,000.

Moe
asserts that MJSP is the premier incumbent worker-training program in
the nation. The program awards grants to educational institutions
partnering with businesses to design curriculum and provide specific
skills training for incumbent workers. Created in 1983, MJSP has
facilitated training for over 100,000 Minnesota workers, he notes.

In
addition to focusing on the skill development of incumbent workers, he
says, MJSP also aims to increase the capacity of educational
institutions. Technical colleges in the Minnesota State Colleges and
Universities (MnSCU) system receive the largest share of MJSP training
grants. Through its grants, Moe maintains, the program has been
instrumental in expanding new course offerings at colleges and
universities throughout Minnesota, helping them stay current in training
for the skills employers need.

5. Speed of change
a factor. The need is
accentuated by the exponential speed with which jobs are changing
because of technology.

6. Job Skills
Partnership a valued asset Thus, the state is
fortunate to have the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership, a cooperative
effort among state government, employers and educators that has trained
some 100,000 workers in the past 33 years.

7. Signing bonuses
possible result.The
need for skilled workers is so acute that employers might offer more
signing bonuses, as is practiced in professional sports.

8. Include marginal
groups.
Moreover, training for neglected groups such as ex-offenders might be an
advantage, not just an act of charity.

Response
Distribution:

Strongly
disagree

Moderately
disagree

Neutral

Moderately agree

Strongly agree

Total Responses

1. Topic is of
value.

0%

0%

20%

60%

20%

10

2. Further
study warranted.

0%

0%

30%

50%

20%

10

3. Training
best with cooperation.

0%

0%

10%

70%

20%

10

4. State’s need
urgent.

0%

11%

11%

44%

33%

9

5. Speed of
change a factor.

0%

0%

10%

70%

20%

10

6. Job Skills
Partnership a valued asset

0%

10%

10%

50%

30%

10

7. Signing
bonuses possible result.

0%

0%

40%

60%

0%

10

8. Include
marginal groups.

0%

0%

20%

60%

20%

10

Individual
Responses:

Alan
Miller (10) (7.5) (10) (10) (10) (10) (7.5) (7.5)

8.
Include marginal groups.
As the nation falls behind in so many categories, MN must remain a
leader and on the cutting edge of technology and education.

Ray
Ayotte (7.5) (7.5) (10) (10) (10) (10) (7.5) (10)

Bruce
Lundeen (5) (5) (7.5) (2.5) (7.5) (2.5) (5) (5)

4.
State’s need urgent.
The challenge is to employ the underclass, they who are going to be most
angry as opportunities evaporate.

6. Job Skills
Partnership a valued asset.
I do not believe the government has played a significantly and cost
effective role in employment issues.

8. Include marginal
groups.
Unmentioned is the most numbered neglected group of black Americans.

This [is]
“wrong-headed” thinking. Bright and skilled people always [rise to] a
challenge when the opportunity exists. It is the black American
underachievement problem that must be addressed before the social
problem becomes a law enforcement problem. These people will create
civil disturbances, and Minnesota, and very likely Minneapolis, will
earn the infamy of Ferguson.

The
“wrong-headedness” of this sort of thinking is not obvious. Smart people
capable of assuming roles in difficult occupations do rise when
opportunity exists. It is [by] the disadvantaged for whom there is no
opportunity that the State’s future is threatened. These frustrated,
angry people will hurt you and damage property because they have been
denied not only the “American dream”, but a subsistence wage. If
Minnesota does not address black American underachievement and
recognized that problems of crime, lack of diversity in the workplace
and minority failures in the education system are social problems, they
will become police problems when law enforcement maintains order during
civil disturbance. Minnesota, and probably Minneapolis in particular,
will join Ferguson in infamy.

John
Nowicki (5) (5) (5) (7.5) (5) (5) (5) (7.5)

6.
Job Skills Partnership a valued asset.
This state continues to ignore the fact that it is not a military
friendly state. The military is full of highly skilled personnel. There
is no incentive to settle here. Military retirees are upstanding
citizens who have, for the most part, experienced situations most can
not comprehend and made it. They come with an education, a retirement to
spend and health care. They are essentially burden free. Where is Mr.
Moe on this? Is there a program?

7. Signing bonuses
possible result. This is a corporate
decision

Wayne
Jennings (9) (9) (9) (na) (9) (9) (8) (9)

Terry
Stone (6) (5) (8) (5) (6) (7) (5) (5)

Skilled workers
are fungible and very mobile. North Dakota is an example of how a state
can quickly attract the skilled people it needs.

Chuck
Lutz (7) (7) (9) (8) (9) (8) (9) (10)

Paul
Hauge (9) (10) (8) (9) (9) (8) (9) (9)

Tom
Swain (10) (10) (8) (10) (8) (10) (5) (8)

Tom
Spitznagle (7) (6) (7) (8) (9) (8) (6) (7)

The appearance of
MJSP’s objectivity in pursuing its goals and its overall credibility
would be enhanced significantly if its board were not made up largely of
political appointees. Perhaps some combination of board appointees
nominated by representatives of industry and education would work
better.

The Civic Caucusis a non-partisan,
tax-exempt educational organization. The Interview Group
includes persons of varying political persuasions,
reflecting years of leadership in politics and
business. Click here to see a short personal background of each.